Centrifugal washing control



E. G. KOCHLI CENTRIFUGAL WASHING CONTROL June 3, 1941.

Filed May 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Shet 1 June 3, 1941. E. e. KOCHLI CENTRIFUGAL WASHING CONTROL Filed May 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AWITIIL A I O 1 JL L I INVENTOR. [/7766/ 61 fiocb/f $1M (LA- m ATTORNEYS Patented June 3, 1941 2,244,652 csn'ramucer. wssimrc common Ernest G. Kochll, Brooklyn, N.Y., asslgnor to Applied Sugar Laboratories, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 22, 1939, Serial No. 274,928

9 Claims. '(Cl. 210-67) This invention relates to improvements in the washing or afllnation of sugar.

In the refining of sugar the raw sugar is commonly mixed with an impure syrup known as For the best results there is a critical point where the wash water should be applied. If it is applied too soon the afiination syrup will be contaminated with green syrup. If too late, time is lost.

Numerous efforts have been made to automatically apply the wash water at just the right moment, none of which have been entirely satis- V factory.

I have discovered means whereby the wash water can be applied automatically at any predetermined speed of the basket or centrifugal, preferably at the moment that the centrifugal has attained a speed at which the maximum amount of green syrup has been extracted. This speed varies, in the same centrifugal, with diflerent sugar and in a typical case may be between 90 and 100 per cent of maximum speed.

The following are some of the objects of the invention:

1. To correlate the speed of the centrifugal with the application of wash water.

2. To provide means for automatically applying wash water at any predetermined speed of the centrifugal.

.3. To apply the wash water during an accurately controlled time interval.

4. To automatically direct the respective efiluents, i. e., green syrup and afiination syrup, into diiferent channels.

In accordance with the invention, the centrifugal is provided with a speed responsive means and this is used to set in motion mechanism which accomplishes the objects above set forth. For example, assume that the centrifugal is driven by an electric motor. It has been found that when the current is first applied it is very high, relatively, that it then decreases and finally reaches a stable minimum. correspondingly the basket speed is low at first. It then increases and finally reaches a stable maximum. If the values for current and basket speed are plotted against time, it will be found that the maximum basket speed and minimum current are attained at the same time and that for every basket speed there is a corresponding current value; and by employing an appropriate current responsive means in cooperation with other mechanism, I am enabled to apply wash water at any given current value .and therefore at any desired basket speed. I am not however limited to the relationship between basket speed and current value, as I may employ other speed responsive means to produce the above objects, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 shows in perspective and diagrammatic form an assembly of apparatus suitable for the practice of the invention and v Fig. 2 shows the corresponding wiring diagram. Fig. 3 shows a form of speed responsive device difierent from that shown in Fig. 2.

Likeparts are designated by like numerals. The motor I drives centrifugal 2. Current is supplied by power circuit 33 controlled by magnetic switch 5, through remote control switch 3- and time clock mechanism 4. When remote control switch 3 is in oil position, the coils 5A and the coil 6A of solenoid 6 are deenergized and,

plunger 63 depresses lock-out arm I, keeping relay contacts 9 open. Coil 8A of solenoid 8 is energized by transformer III in series with the power circuit which feeds the motor l.

Plunger 83 moves up and down with variations in the current in the power circuit and in coils I0 and 8A. The valve seat I2A (see Fig. 2) is normally held closed by gravity or a spring acting upon plunger IZC and is opened by the retraction of plunger [2C when coil I2B of the solenoid i2 is energized. The period during which valve MA is held open is governed by timing mechanism 63. When the valve HA is open water is delivered to the centrifugal through spray it. Coil iii of solenoid 20 operates plunger 20A, which in turn opens and closes contacts 2|. Coil 28 in relay or solenoid 29 is energized simultaneously with coil l9 and coil 28 operates plunger 30 which is ad justably time-retarded by suitable mechanism, such as dash-pot 30A. Plunger 30 serves to open and close contacts 3i. Coil 36 of relay 31 operates plunger 36A which serves to open and close contacts 38.

Solenoid 20 and timing mechanism I3 controls the operation of valve l2A. Relays 29 and 31' control the operation of valve 32, which will be presently described. V

Hopper 40 contains the mixture of sugar and green syrup for delivery to the basket 2 through gate ll.' Eifluent from the basket 2 is delivered from spout 23 to the selectively-operating receiver 24. The valve 32 admits compressed air from line 32A into cylinder 33 when said valve 32 is opened. Opening occurs when the coil 32B is energized and retracts plunger 32C. Arm 34 is arranged to be forced'counter-clo'ckwise by the pressure in cylinder 33 and by means-oi lever 26,

to rotate the selectively operating funnel 24 counter-clockwise, so as to cause eflluent to be delivered into the channel 35. Valve 32 is a three way valve. In its normally closed position it not. only cuts off the supply of compressed air to the chamber 33, but'also establishes communication between this chamberand the atmosphere, thus permitting the arm 34 carrying a piston to be forced in a clockwise direction by the spring 25, thus causing funnel 24 to be tilted, to be reset for delivery of effluent into channel 21 at the be ginning of the next cycle. 7

The operation begins by closing remote control switch 3. This energizes the circuit KIKZ and closed, coll I9 is energized, thus moving plunger A upwardly and breaking contacts 2|. This breaks the circuit B1B: and valve |2A closes since it is normally held closed by gravity or spring action and is opened only when coil HE is enermined .arc said arm [,6 engages and closes contacts l8.

The coil I! is energized by circuit B101 simultaneously with the starting of motor Hi.

When contacts I8 are closed they must remain closed until the lock-out arm 1 becomes operative coil 5A which through plunger 5B closes the switch 3A and power circuit 33, thus starting the motor I and the centrifugal 2. A transformer I0 is in series with the power circuit, the secondary of this transformer being a part of a circuit AiAz including the coil 8A. The current in the circuit 'AlAZ and coil 8A is an inverse function of the speed of the motor and centrifugal and decreases as the centrifugal speed increases. The plunger BB moves upwardly as the current in coll 8A increases and downwardly by gravity as said cur-- rent decreases and can be adjusted to close contacts 9 of circuit B1Bz at any predetermined value of the current in the power circuit and consequently any predetermined centrifugal speed. In a. typical case it is adjusted to close contacts 9 at a point between 90'and 100 per cent of maximum speed, as it is desirable to apply the wash water at this point with numerous kinds of sugars. The

plunger 8B is free to move because plungerGB has been retracted by coil 6A energized by coil 5A, thus putting the lock-out arm I in inoperative position.

The, transformer I0 is an illustration of a speed-responsive means and serves satisfactorily when the centrifugal is driven by an electric motor. Since it may be driven by other means, e. g. a belt drive from a power shaft, a quite diiferent form of speed responsive means may be employed. This alternative form is shown by centrifugal relay 39 having an arm 39A which at a predetermined speed closes contacts MA, by means of circuit P1P2, thus closing circuit BIBZ. When the contacts 9 and circuit B1B2 are closed, three operations simultaneously occur.

First operation Valve seat HA is opened by the action of coil i2B of solenoid I2 on the valve stem l2C. Water is then admitted to the sugar in centrifugal 2 at precisely the moment when the centrifugal has attained a predetermined speed, this being the moment when the green syrup has left the basket through conduit 23.

Second operation to break contacts 9, through breaking of the circuit KIKZ (by the operation of time mechanism 4). This is necessary in order to keep the coil I9 energized and thereby keep valve I! closed. Contacts I8 will remain closed as long as clutch "A is locked and this will remain locked as longas coil I1 is energized. Coil. l1 remains energized by circuit 310; until the breaking of contacts 9. When that occurs, contacts 'l8are broken and time mechanism [3 is reset by the action of the spring acting onarm l6.

Third operation comprises an actuating relay 29, a maintaining relay 31 and valve 32. The reason for these two relays is as follows: At the end of a predetermined time, the time mechaanism 4 operating through the circuit KIKZ deenergizes coil 5A and breaks power circuit 33. vWhen coil 5A is deenergized, coil 6A becomes likewise deenergized, plunger 63 drops, engages lock-out arm 1 in the position shown and breaks contacts 9, thus simultaneously breaking contacts 3| because of the deenergization of coil 28. Coil 36 remains energized because of its direct connection to the remote control circuit M1M2 through the contacts 38 and the circuit GlGz remains energized notwithstanding the breaking of contacts 9. Thus the valve 32 remains open and maintains funnel 24 in a position to direct the eflluents into channel 35 after the breaking of the power circuit. The reason for desiring this is that efiluent continues to flow from the centrifugal after the breaking of the power circuit and means are provided to keep this effluent directed into the channel 35. Notwithstanding the breaking of contacts 9, coil 3213 will continue to be energized, thus ditherewith by gravity. When the contacts is are recting eflluent into channel 35 so long as coil 36 is energized and coil 36 remains energized after the circuit KIKZ is automatically broken by time mechanism A and until manually controlled switch 3 is opened.

The operation of actuating relay 29, maintaining relay 3? and valve will now be described: When coil 28 is supplied with current by circuit DIDZ plunger 39 which is adjustably timedelayed by dash-pot 30A moves upwardly during a predetermined time interval and closes contacts 3i, thus energizing-circuit EIEZ containing coil 36. Plunger 36A then immediately closes circuit GiGa containing coil 3213 in valve mechanism 32. Theplunger 32C moves upwardly opening the valve 32 and admitting compressed air from the line "A. The arm 3! moves to the left causing lever 26 to move in a counterclockwise direction against the tension of spring 25, thus causing funnel 24 to tilt in a counter-clockwise direction and direct the efliuent into channel 35. Thus, for an adjustably predetermined short interval after the application of spray water-from spray H, the effluent passes into the green syrup channel 21. The first washings contain substantially all the green syrup not removed by centrifugal action and by the operation and mechanism described. Such residual green syrup on the sugar :rystals does not contaminate the subsequent affination syrup which flows through channel 35.

Upon breaking or opening of manually con- ;rolled remote control switch 3, coils 36 and 32B- ire deenergized, thus permitting spring 25 to reset the funnel 24 for the next cycle.

The operation or total cycle is terminated by Jpening remote control switch 3.

The; switch 22 is provided in order to permit ;he application of a manually controlled washing lperation independently of the automatic sysam. By pressing the contact plate 22A to en- ;agezthe contacts 22B the coil 12B is segregated 'rom the automatic system and connected di- 'ectly to the remote control circuit MIM2.

I claim:

1. In centrifugal apparatus adapted for the urificationlof sugar, the combination with a cenrifugal: and driving means therefor; of means lctuated by an .operative electrical circuit to supily' wash waterfito sugar in said centrifugal; neans responsiveato variations in the speed of :aid" centrifugal? and; means operated by said peed-responsive means, to place said electrical :ircuit. inaoperatiom and thereby supply wash water. at a". predetermined speed of said cenrifugal, and. means: to place" said electrical cirzuit in: inoperative: condition and. thereby to disontinue: the supply of: said. wash water at the xpiration of a predetermined? period. l

25.11:: centrifugal apparatus adapted for th urification ofisugan; the, combination with a speed of said centrifugal and means to close said valve after a predetermined period of time,

4. In centrifugal apparatus adapted for the purification of sugar, the combination with a centrifugal and driving means therefor; of means including a valve to supply wash water to the sugar in said centrifugal; means responsive solely to variations in the speed of said centrifugal; and means operated directly by said speed responsive means to open said valve at a predetermined speed of said centrifugal and to close said valve at the expiration of a predetermined time interval after the opening of said valve.

5. In centrifugal apparatus adapted for the purification of sugar, the combination with a centrifugal and driving means therefor, of supply means for delivering wash water'to the sugar in said centrifugal, control means to render said supply means operative, timing means to render said supply means inoperative after a predetermined time interval, an electrical circuit for initiating operation of said control means and said timing means, and means actuated by said centrifugal at a predetermined speed of the centrifugal to control electric flow in said circuit to initiate operation of said control means and said timing means.

6. In centrifugal apparatus adapted for the purification of sugar, the combination with a centrifugal and driving means therefor; of means including a valve. to supply wash water to the sugar in said centrifugal; means responsive solely to variations in the speed of said centrifugal; a first electrical circuit adapted upon the closing thereof to open said valve; a second electrical circuit and means adapted upon the closing thereof to break said first circuit and close said valve; a third electrical circuit adapted to be closed simultaneously with the closing of said first circuit and means operated by the. closing;

of said third circuit to close said second circuit after the expiration of a predetermined time inentrifugal' and drifvingfmeans therefor, ofsup- -ly meansfor deliveringwashwater to: the sugar 1" said centrifuga1'-,,contr.ol. means to render said upply'means1 operative;, timing; means; torender aidsupply means inoperative: after: a. predearmined time-interval, two; discharge. channels or; conveying the: emuent, effluent-receiving, leans selectively operable. to the efliuent. tom the. centrifugal: into. either." of. the: said two hannels, timing; means; operable; after a. preetermined; time: interval. to control said. effluent-- eceiving. means; to: divert. the; efliuent; from one If said channels: to: the. other, arr. electricall circuit Jr: initiating operation. of; said. control means. nd. said. timing; means; means actuated: by said; entrifugali at. a. predeterminedi speed? of? the: cenrifugal to control electric; fiowsaid circuit; to. litiate? operation. of. said control; means and botlr. f said timing means.

3. In. centrifugali apparatusadapted for the urification. of sugar; the corrilii'nation with. a antrifugal'. and" driving: means therefor; of" means icludin-g; a. valve: to. supply washl water to the. igar in. said. centrifugal; means: responsive solely l variations in. the. speed of said, centrifugal; leans: operated directly by said. responsive cans to operr said valve at a. predetermined terval; and means operated directly by said. speed responsive means to close said first electrical circuit at a predetermined speed of said centrifugal.

'7. In centrifugal apparatus, a centrifuge adapted for the separation of liquid from solid material; means including a valve to supply washing liquid to. the contents of said centrifugal; means responsive solely to variations in the speed of said centrifugal; means operated directly by said speed responsive means to open said valve at a predetermined speed of said centrifugal and means to close said valve after a predetermined period of time;

8. In: centrifugal apparatus, a centrifuge adapted for the separation of liquid from solid material; an alternating current motor to drive said. centrifugal; a power circuit supplying alternating current to said motor which current during operation varies: in. response to variations in the speed of. said centrifugal; a transformer having; its primary coil in said power circuit; a valve to. supply'wash: liquid to the contents of said centrifugal; inductive means including the secondary coil of said. transformer to open said valve at; a. predetermined value of the current in said primary coil and therefore at a predetermined speed. of said centrifugal and means to close said valve after a predetermined period of time.

9;. In. centrifugal apparatus a centrifuge adapted for the separation of liquid from solid material and the washing of said solid material from which. said liquid has been removed, means E01 drive said centrifnc'pa vn'lnn +1. cnnnl -1- ing liquid to the contents or said centrifuge; effluent-receiving means to receive the emuent from said centrifuge and selectively discharge said eflluent to'different channels; means including a first relay adapted when actuated to open said valve; means responsive to the speed of said centrifuge to actuate said relay and open said valve at a predetermined minimum speed of said centrifuge; means including an electrical relay and a time-controlled electric circuit operative 10 time, and means to maintain said efliuent-receiving means in a position to discharge the eflluent into said predetermined channel at speeds of said centrifugal below said minimum speed,

ERNEST G. KOCHLI. 

